Raking apparatus



Oct. 31, 1939. w P -rs 2,178,288

BAKING APPARATUS Filed April 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zhwentor Mme/n795d Gttomeg Patented Oct. 31, 1939 f mm 'sr irss 2,178,288 BAKINGAPPARATUS William EPotts, Kansas City, Mo.

Application April '7, 1938, Serial No. 260,670

8 Claims. (01. 551i6) My invention relates to improvements in rakingapparatus.

It relates particularly to a Wheeled rake having a rake head havingnovel means for-lifting 5. the rake head and stripping therefrommaterial gathered by the teeth, when the handle pushes the rake aheadOne of the objects of my invention is the provision of novel means forsupporting the rake head, novel means for stripping the material fromthe rake teeth, and novel means for attaching the rake head to thehandle.

A furtherobject of my invention is the provision of novel means by whichthe head of the rake can be adjusted to different operating heights fromthe ground, so as to permit the teeth to be disposed at all times abovethe ground, or in positions in which the teeth may enter the ground todifferent distances. Another object of my invention is the provision ofnovel means by which teeth may be removed and replaced readily,-,and bywhich they will be firmly held in operative position.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of novel means forattaching the rake head to the handle.

Another object of my invention isthe provision of novel means forscraping the peripheries of the carrying wheels.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a rakingapparatus of the kind describedv which is simple, strong, durable, notlikely to get out of order, which can readily be adjusted from a rakingto a digging or harrow- 5 ing position, and which is easy .to operateand eflicient in its operation.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described andclaimed. 7

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment ofmy invention and some modifications thereof, 2

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved raking apparatus, shown inthe raking position and the handlev partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of what is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section, showing the. rake head and teeth inraking position, with the teeth disposed slightly above the ground.

Fig. i is a section on the line 4 l of, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an outside elevation of a part of the mechanism, showing oneof the wheel scrapers of Figs. 1 to 3 in operative engagement with. theadjacent wheel. I

Fig. 6 is a front elevation, parts being broken away, showing the headlocking member engaged with the. axle stripping member, thereby holdingthe rake head elevated.

Fig. 7 is a cross section, enlarged, with the rake head inclined and thestripping member, or axle,

' having operated to strip material from the teeth. 5

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, showing thelocking member holding the rake head elevated.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation, enlarged, of an end portion of the head,showing how the channel 10 member is held clamped to one of the slottedend members of the head.

Fig. 10 is a sectionon the line llll!l of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a'fragmental section of what is shown in Fig. 9. 15

Fig. 12 is a fragmental side elevation of some of the parts, showing amodified form of scraper engaging the periphery of one of the carryingwheels.

Similar characters of reference designate simig lar parts in thedifierent views.

The rake head is not'of usual construction, but comprises the followingdescribed parts.

A transverse horizontal channel member I has its flanges disposed oneabove the other and extending rearwardly, each flange having alongitudinal series of holes registering with the holes in the otherflange, the holes on the upper flange being larger than those in thelower flange, and

the holes having diameters such that the down- 3 against the front sidesof the teeth 2, thus holding them firmly. Nuts i on the bolts 4 bearagainst the angle bar 3.

The rake head has two upwardly extending end members 5, the forwardedges of which are 45 slidably fitted in slots in the rear edges of theflanges of the'channel bar respectively adjacent to the ends of thelatter, whereby the channel bar l and teeth 2 may be upwardly anddownwardly adjusted, so as to have the teeth, when 50 in rakingposition, at different distances from the ground.

For releasably clamping the channel member I in the position to which itmay be adjusted on the end members 5, there are providedtwo '55 clampingplates '6, Figs. 9, 10 and 11, through which respectively extend thebolts 4, and which bear against the rear sides of the end teeth 2respectively, and against the end members 5 in the upper longitudinalslots I provided respectively in the members 5.

The end members 5 of the rake head are provided each below the slot 1with a lower longitudinal slot 8 through which extends and is slidable ahorizontal transverse stripping member 9, which also serves as an axle,the ends of which are mounted in and supported by two carrying wheels Iadapted for travel on the ground. Removable cotter pins II respectivelyfasten the wheels I!) on the axle 9, whereby the wheels I0 may be easilyremoved, when it is desired, as will be hereinafter explained, to usethe teeth 2 for harrowing instead of raking.

Pivoted respectively by bolts I2 to the upper end portions of the endmembers of the rake head, are two rearwardly extending memberscomprising bars I3, the rear end portions of which are clamped by boltsI4 to the outer sides of two downwardly extending longitudinal edgeportions or flanges I5 of a longitudinally divided sleeve I6, whichisrigidly clamped upon the front end portion of an ordinary rearwardlyextending handle I'I.

Each member I3, between the bolt I2 and the sleeve I6, is embraced bythe upper end portions of a pair of links I8 to which it is pivoted by abolt I9. The lower ends of the links I8 of each pair are pivoted to theaxle stripping member 9 at the inner side of the adjacent wheel I0.Cotter pins 29 respectively hold the bolts I9 in operative positions.

For partially balancing the weight of the rake head and parts attachedto it, there is provided a coil spring 2I, the rear end of which isfastened to a hook 22 in the front end of the handle H. The other end ofthe spring 2| is attached to the lower rear end of a bolt 23 thatextends upwardly forwardly, and has a shouldered front threaded endportion extending forwardly through the web of the channel member I, theangle member 3 and a locking member 24, which bears against the frontside of the angle member 3. A nut 25 on the front end of the bolt 23holds the latter in operative position. The tension of the spring 2|normally tends to lift the rake head. By adjusting the handle I! in theclamping sleeve I6, between the positions shown respectively in solidand dotted lines in Fig. 3, the tension of the spring 2| may be varied.

The locking member 24 has a longitudinal slot 26, which, when the nut 25is loosened, permits the locking member 24 to be swung from theinoperative upper position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to the positionshown in Figs. 6 and 8, in which position a notch 21 in the lower end ofthe looking member 24 is adapted to receive the axle stripping member 9,when the rake head is lifted, thereby, when the nut 25 is tightened,holding the rake head and the rake teeth raised from the ground, andprojecting below the stripping member 9 a distance depending upon howhigh above the stripping member 9, the rake head is adjusted on themembers 5. With the rake head I adjusted to the position desired, andwith the locking member lockingly engaged with the stripping member oraxle 9, only the portions of the teeth which are below the axle orstripping member 9 will operate for raking, and the teeth will not bestripped of the material raked.

Upon removing the wheels ID from the axle member 9, the apparatus maythen be used to have the teeth 2 harrow the ground.

For raking and having the axle 9 operate as a stripping member, thewheels II) are placed on the axle 9 and the cotter pins II replaced. Thelocking member 24 is then readjusted to the inoperative position shownin Figs. 1 and 3. The handle I! is then drawn rearwardly, thus, throughthe sleeve I6, members I3 and end members 5, swinging the rake head tothe position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and lowering the teeth 2 to theraking position in which they will pull rearwardly the raked material.

Upon pushing the handle I! forwardly, the same elements, with theassistance of the coil spring 2|, and the resistance offered to theforward movement of the wheels by the grass on the ground, will swingthe head to the position shown in Fig. 7 with the axle stripping member9 at the lower end of the slots 8 in the end members 5. In passing tosuch position, the stripping axle member 9 will strip the materialgathered upon the teeth 2.

Upon again pulling back the handle I1, the rake head and teeth 2 willagain at once resume the raking lowered position, shown in Figs. 1 and3, thus completing the cycle.

For scraping mud and dirt from the wheels III, to prevent the teeth 2being held higher from the ground than they should be, there isprovided, as shownin Figs. 1 to 8, two sheet metal scrapers 28respectively pivoted to the bolts I9 and having their other endslaterally extending, with their lower edges resting on the peripheriesof the wheels Ill. The bolts I2 respectively extend through slots 29 inthe scrapers 28, to limit the swinging of the latter. The bolts I2 areshouldered and provided with nuts I2. The scrapers 28 rest on the wheelsII) when the parts are in the lower raking positions, as in Figs. 1 and3.

In Fig. 12 is shown a wheel scraper of modified form, in which a fiatspring plate 30 is disposed edgewise between each pair of links I8. Oneend of the plate 30 has an eye 3I through which extends an anchoring pin32 mounted in the pair of links I8. The plate 30 extends toward theadjacent wheel II] to and past a pin 33 carried by the pair of links I8, and has at its rear end a laterally outwardly extending portion 34disposed edgewise on the periphery of the adjacent wheel Ill. The plate30 is sprung into this position, and its tension holds it tightlyagainst the wheel II] at all times.

The scrapers 28 rest by gravity on the wheels I0, and the slots 29 inthe scrapers 28 permit the latter to lift up and not serve to exert abraking pressure on the wheels, when crowded with mud or weeds. Thespring plate scraper 30 will not accumulate enough material to interferewith easy running of the wheels.

By simply reciprocating the rake handle H, the grass may be raked, andthe material gathered on the teeth stripped therefrom by the axlestripping member 9 on each forward stroke. By having the strippingmember 9 disposed at the rear of the rake teeth 2, raked material isprevented from piling up on the teeth above the stripping member, whichwould not be prevented, were the stripping member at the front side ofthe teeth, as trial has proven.

Many other modifications may be made, within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a raking apparatus, a rake head, teeth I said stripping member.extends and has sliding,

carried thereby, a handle, a member pivoted to said head, meansattaching said member to said handle, a stripping member extendingtransversely across and closely adjacent to said teeth and relatively towhich said head is upwardly and. downwardly movable, means independentof said head and said teeth adapted for travel on the ground supportingsaid stripping member, and a link connected to said stripping member andpivoted to said pivoted member.

2. In a raking apparatus, a transverse stripping member, means adaptedfor travel on the ground supporting said stripping member, a rake headmovable upwardly and downwardly and having sliding engagement with saidstripping member, teeth carried by said head closely adjacent andtransverse to said stripping member, a handle, a member pivoted to saidhead, means attaching saidpivoted member to said handle, and a linkconnected to said stripping member and pivoted to said pivoted member,said means supporting said stripping member being independent of saidhead and said teeth.

3. In a raking apparatus, carrying wheels, a stripping member mounted onand serving as an axle for said wheels, a rake head upwardly anddownwardly movable relatively to said stripping member, teeth carried bysaid head closely adjacent and transverse to said stripping member, a

handle, a member pivoted to said head, means attaching said pivotedmemberto said handle, and a link connected to said stripping member andpivoted to said pivoted member.

4. In a raking apparatus, a stripping member,

means adapted for travel on the ground supporting said stripping member,a rake head having a member transverse to said stripping member, saidtransverse member having a slot through which engagement with saidslotted transverse member, teeth carried by said head closely adjacentand transverse to said stripping member, a handle, a member pivoted tosaid slotted member, means attaching said pivoted member to said handle,and a link connected to said stripping member and pivoted to saidpivoted member.

5. In a raking apparatus, a stripping member, means adapted for travelon the ground supporting said stripping member, arake head having amember transverse to and having sliding engagement with said strippingmember, said head having tooth supporting means adjustable on saidslidable member toward and from said stripping member, teeth carried bysaid tooth supporting means closely adjacent and transverse to saidstripping member, a handle, a member pivoted to said slidable member,means attaching said pivoted member to said handle, and a link connectedto said stripping said pivoted member.

6. In a raking apparatus, a stripping member, two carrying wheelssupporting said stripping member and pivoted to member, a rake headhaving two members transverse to and having sliding engagement with saidstripping member, teeth carried by said head and movable therewith andtransverse'and closely bers toward and from said stripping member,

teeth carried by said tooth supporting means and movable therewithtransverse and closely adjacent to said stripping member, a handle, twomembers pivoted respectively to said two slidable members, meansattaching said pivoted members to said handle, and a link connected tosaid stripping member and pivoted to one of said pivoted members. I

8. Ina raking apparatus, a transverse stripping member, means adapted-for travel on the ground supporting said stripping member, a rake headhaving tooth supporting meansand having a member provided with twoalined slots, disposed one above the other, said stripping member beingdisposed in the lower one of said slots and having sliding engagementwith said slotted member,

teeth carried by said tooth supporting means transversely adjacent tosaid stripping member,

said tooth supporting means with said teeth being upwardly anddownwardly adjustable, and means adjustable in the upper one of saidslots for fastening said tooth supporting means in difierent positionsto which said tooth supporting. means, is adjusted.

WILLIAM F. Po'rTs,

